Summer holidays is a time to take a break from work and rest before the new academic year by doing favourite activities: traveling, meeting new people, and spending time with family and friends. But at OSPU, all the joys of summer can be combined with studying and discovering something new, and this applies to both students and faculty.
Omsk Gathers Friends is the Summer School of Russian Language and Regional Studies, which brought together nearly 100 children from Burundi, an East African country bordering Lake Tanganyika. The students at Heha Elementary School, located in Bujumbura, the largest Burundian city, learned about Omsk, very cold Siberian city by African standards. They believe that kind and happy people live here, who, like many Africans, love sports, music, and appreciate culture.
"The lessons are aimed to teach young students about Russia and its culture, as well as to introduce them to Omsk and its residents. Simple friendly interactions are also important, so our classes are like a dialogue, giving an opportunity to learn about each other's interests. My colleagues and I experience exactly the same emotions from interactions during classes as students at the Heha Elementary School. Burundi is as exotic for Omsk residents as Russia and Siberia are for Africans," says Evgenii Vidanov, Head of the Russian Language Department.
In their classes, teachers Iuliia Litvinenko and Marina Shutiak utilize all the latest linguistic and didactic technologies: interactive presentations, educational videos, and worksheets specifically designed for students at Heha Elementary School.
Conducting Summer and Winter Russian Language Schools for international students is one of Omsk State Pedagogical University's hallmarks. This cherished tradition has existed at OSPU for over 20 years, and it has become especially important in the context of new academic projects and pedagogical challenges.
The Omsk Gathers Friends Summer School of Russian Language and Regional Studies is being implemented at Omsk State Pedagogical University within the framework of cooperation with the Children Must Live International Children’s Aid Fund.
